Clad metal strips

High-Performance Materials for Reliable Connectors

Contact us to discuss your connector material challenges and opportunities. If you are attending the Connector User Congress, visit us there, June 29–July 1, 2026.

Engineered for Strength, Conductivity, Durability, and Long-Term Performance

Connectors today face increasing electrical, thermal, and mechanical demands across industries. From EVs and aerospace to data infrastructure, energy, and harsh‑environment electronics, Materion supports these challenges with our portfolio of copper beryllium alloys, copper-nickel-tin alloys, nickel-beryllium alloys, and engineered strip solutions.

 

Copper Beryllium Rolls

Copper-Based Connector Solutions

Copper-beryllium alloys provide an exceptional combination of strength, spring properties, and electrical conductivity. Available in a range of conductivity levels, these materials enable designers to achieve high mechanical performance without sacrificing electrical functionality. Among high-strength copper alloys, copper-beryllium offers some of the highest levels of electrical conductivity available, making it ideal for demanding signal and power connector applications.

Applications: Automotive systems  |  Aerospace Electronics  |  Industrial Interconnects  |  Telecommunications Infrastructure  |  High-Reliability Electrical Connectors

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Emery Low Lead™ Alloy

To support customers seeking lower-lead alternatives while maintaining performance, Materion developed Emery Low Lead™ alloy. The result of a multi-year research and development initiative, Emery Low Lead material delivers high strength and excellent machinability while helping manufacturers comply with evolving environmental requirements and RoHS regulations.

ToughMet® and BrushForm® Copper-Nickel-Tin Alloys

When exceptional strength, wear resistance, and stress relaxation performance are required, copper-nickel-tin alloys offer a compelling solution. ToughMet and BrushForm alloys provide high strength, excellent fatigue resistance, superior wear performance, and outstanding resistance to galling, helping connectors maintain performance throughout extended service lives and repeated mating cycles.

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Alloy 360® Nickel-Beryllium (UNS N03360)

Materion Alloy 360® nickel-beryllium strip is engineered for components exposed to severe thermal and mechanical stress.

Key performance characteristics include:

  • Withstands intermittent temperatures up to 350°C while maintaining spring properties
  • Retains approximately 95% of initial stress after 1,000 hours at 315°C
  • Achieves tensile strengths up to 2,000 MPa through a simple one-step heat treatment process

Applications: Aerospace Sensors  |  Down-Hole Oil and Gas Measurement Systems  |  Burn-In Test Sockets  |  Additional High-Temperature Electronic Applications

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Engineered Strip Solutions

Many connector applications require performance characteristics that cannot be achieved with a single metal. Materion's engineered strip solutions combine multiple metals into a single high-performance material through advanced metallurgical bonding processes, enabling unique combinations of strength, conductivity, corrosion resistance, wear performance, and formability.

By combining the best properties of multiple materials, engineered strip solutions provide design flexibility for complex connector applications while helping to optimize performance, functionality, and cost.

Featured Application: EV Charging Infrastructure

iON EV™ clad is a silver-based clad material developed specifically for electric vehicle and high-power charging applications. Designed as an alternative to conventional silver coatings, it addresses durability and wear challenges associated with repeated fast-charging cycles.

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Clad Metal Products

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Guide to Designing Reliable Connectors

Successful connector development requires more than selecting a material. Contact geometry, spring design, manufacturing methods, and operating conditions all influence long-term reliability.

Drawing on decades of experience supporting connector manufacturers worldwide, Materion developed a comprehensive guide covering:

  • Material selection considerations
  • Connector design fundamentals
  • Mechanical performance optimization
  • Electrical performance requirements
  • Manufacturing considerations
  • Reliability in demanding environments

Download the Guide to Designing Reliable Connectors to gain practical insights into material selection, design, and manufacturing for high-performance connector systems.

 

Download the Connector Design Guide
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